9.30am to 4.30pm

The course

At the hub of the large houses over the centuries from Tudor to late Georgian periods was the stillroom. In early times, often a separate building in the gardens for safety and easy access, later part of the house, this was where all manner of herbs, fruits and sweetmeats were prepared. Distilling waters for cosmetics and medicine, drying and powdering herbs for mixtures, making lotions and creams, salves, candied fruits, syrups,  honeys and medicinal tinctures and liqueurs were all part of the daily round. Preserves needed to be stocked for the winter months, which made the summer doubly busy.

This day seeks to give a fragrant and busy experience of the tastes, scents and textures experienced across the centuries, coming to identify herbs of importance and making original recipes. Herbs to be featured on the day will include roses, pot marigold, angelica, marshmallow, rosemary, sage, smallage and lovage.

The tutor

Christina Stapley BSc (Hons) MCPP is a qualified medical herbalist with a degree in Phytotherapy (plant therapy) and practises in Wiltshire.  She has grown some 300 herbs, studied and used them for over 30 years.  Her Hampshire garden was featured on television several times.  Her knowledge of herb history is shared in historical herb workshops at Butser Ancient Farm, the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, the Chiltern Open Air Museum and other centres in Somerset and East Anglia.  She has written three books on cultivating and using herbs in cookery, fragrant recipes, wines and liqueurs, crafts and home remedies.  Christina has also edited and interpreted a 17th century book of cookery and physic recipes.
http://www.heartsease-herb-books.com/workshop.htm

Participant information

Places are limited to 12 people. Please bring with you a pen and paper for taking notes.  

Fee

£50 per person, including tuition, teas and coffees.
The Museum café will be open for lunch-time snacks or alternatively participants can bring their own packed lunch.

The Museum

The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has over 45 historic building exhibits.  It is also home to the award winning and innovative Downland Gridshell, which houses a conservation workshop and artefact store, and is also used for many practical courses.  The Museum runs a full programme of courses in historic building conservation and traditional rural trades and crafts, along with MSc programmes in Building Conservation and Timber Building Conservation. Please telephone for further details.

To book, download a form here. Alternatively, fill in the booking request below.

Make a Booking Request

 
This is an initial booking request form, and does not guarantee a place on the course. The Adult Learning Team will check the availability of the course, and reply to you as soon as possible - usually within one working day.